Over £110,000 from Wick Academy Development Fund awarded to three registered charities
THREE registered charities have received just over £110,000 from "the surplus assets" of the Wick Academy Development Fund (WADF).
Wick Youth Club, Pulteneytown Peoples' Project (PPP) and High Life Highland were awarded a total of £110, 328.05 from the fund which was understood to have around £140,000 in the bank.
Concerns had been raised about the way the development fund was managed with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator first making enquiries in 2010.
In January last year, Eileen Blackburn, of French Duncan LLP, was appointed by the Court of Session in Edinburgh to manage the affairs of the fund after an investigation by the regulator.
She decided, after a lengthy process, to award the money from the fund to the three charities, which were chosen from 15 applications. Ms Blackburn's spokesman said: "In line with her statutory responsibilities, the judicial factor distributed the surplus assets of Wick Academy Development Fund (WADF) to the three registered charities who applied and had the most closely aligned charitable objectives as WADF.
He said Wick Youth Club was awarded £64,431.55, while Pulteneytown Peoples’ Project received £21,671.55 and High Life Highland was given £24,224.95.
"All costs and disbursements in relation to dealing with the Judicial Factory (including VAT paid to H M Revenue and Customs and legal fees) were undertaken in accordance with statutory requirements, and were approved by the Accountant of the Court and the Court of Session," added the spokesman.
Julie Mackinnon, the manager at Wick Youth Club, said the money received from the Wick Academy Development Fund, is "an absolute godsend" and will help to carry out refurbishments at the Rosebank Playing Fields which is owned by the youth club.
It officially took over the premises from Highland Council last November after a successful application for a community asset transfer.
Mrs Mackinnon said: "The money will be used to make improvements to the tennis courts, football and basketball area and the crazy golf at the Rosebank Playing Fields to enhance the services to the public. We have done some work at the bouncy castle play area and are re-doing the crazy golf area and will be renewing the surfacing at the tennis courts and football/basketball area, hopefully, at the end of the year."
"We are really grateful for the money we received from the WADF and it will help us achieve what we want to do at the Rosebank Playing Fields which can be used by the whole community from toddlers to senior citizens and for functions. It has been an absolute godsend but we will have to apply for match funding as the improvements will cost a lot of money," added Mrs Mackinnon.
She pointed out that some of the development fund cash is being used to buy sports equipment for the youth club and will assist with the running costs of the Rosebank Playing Fields.
Youth club chairman, Cameron Reid, explained it would cost £40,000 just to resurface the tennis and football courts but added: "This funding will go a long way to improving the Rosebank Playing Fields for use by the whole community, particularly for improving physical and mental health for all."
Jennifer Harvey of Pulteneytown Peoples' Project said: "We are very grateful for the grant received. We hope it will allow us to further develop our outdoor space to include key areas like messy play-mud kitchens, water areas, sensory area and a wooden climbing structure to further our childcare services, learning and development.
"We are committed to making our centre accessible to all and this stimulating outdoor environment for children of all abilities and disabilities will be open to the wider community to enjoy outwith our regulated childcare hours."
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A High Life Highland spokesperson said: "We have purchased spin bikes that have been utilised for regular classes at the Assembly Rooms.
"Previously, we were unable to provide access to spin classes in the area so this is something we are delighted to be able to offer and has proven to be extremely popular.
"The remaining funding has been used to purchase sports equipment – notably archery kits, footballs, basket balls, netball kits and football nets - to support our young people through the Active Schools Programme in Wick."